Standard Lemma guide

cunningly

adv · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

adv

Meaning 1

With cunning, cleverly.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

adverb

Meaning 2

in an artful manner

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • he craftily arranged to be there when the decision was announced
  • had ever circumstances conspired so cunningly?

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: craftily, foxily, knavishly, slyly, trickily, artfully

Antonyms: none provided

3

adverb

Meaning 3

in an attractive manner

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • how cunningly the olive-green dress with its underskirt of rose-brocade fitted her perfect figure

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: cutely

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Etymology tree English cunning Middle English -ly English -ly English cunningly From cunning + -ly.

Across languages

Translations

29 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Armenian: խորամանկորեն (xoramankoren) — with cunning, cleverly
  • Esperanto: ruze — with cunning, cleverly
  • Finnish: ovelasti — with cunning, cleverly
  • Finnish: viekkaasti — with cunning, cleverly
  • French: astucieusement — with cunning, cleverly
  • French: ingénieusement — with cunning, cleverly
  • French: d'une manière rusée — with cunning, cleverly
  • Georgian: მარჯვედ (marǯved) — with cunning, cleverly
  • German: schlau — with cunning, cleverly
  • Ido: ruzoze — with cunning, cleverly
  • Italian: volpinamente — with cunning, cleverly
  • Italian: abilmente — with cunning, cleverly
  • Italian: furbescamente — with cunning, cleverly
  • Northern Kurdish: xapînkî — with cunning, cleverly
  • Northern Kurdish: bincanbazî — with cunning, cleverly
  • Northern Kurdish: biçivîî — with cunning, cleverly
  • Latin: vafrē — with cunning, cleverly
  • Polish: chytrze — with cunning, cleverly
  • Polish: sprytnie — with cunning, cleverly
  • Portuguese: astuciosamente — with cunning, cleverly
  • Portuguese: destramente — with cunning, cleverly
  • Romanian: cu șiretenie — with cunning, cleverly
  • Russian: искусно (iskusno) — with cunning, cleverly
  • Russian: ловко (lovko) — with cunning, cleverly
  • Russian: хитро (xitro) — with cunning, cleverly
  • Russian: плутовато (plutovato) — with cunning, cleverly
  • Spanish: astutamente — with cunning, cleverly
  • Spanish: arteramente — with cunning, cleverly
  • Swedish: förslaget — with cunning, cleverly